Apparatus and process for producing motion-pictures



H G. CHRISTENSEN. APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING MOTION PICTURES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19.1919.

Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

c wuewt 31 5 fl btozme z vm UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

HAROLD GLOY CHRISTENSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR PROD UCING MOTION-PICTURES.

Application filed July 19, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD GLoY CHRIS- TENSEN, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at No. 342 West 71st street, in the city of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Apparatus and Processes for Producing Motion-Pictures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the production of a new type of motion pictures by means of the photography of a fluent image undergoing distortion.

One ofthe objects of the invention is to devise a process whereby motion pictures of a novel and unique character may be ob-- tained and wherein are depicted ordinary objects gradually assuming grotesque and fantastic. shapes or fantastic and unrecognizable matter gradually forming into recognizable objects.

Another object of the invention is to devise a simple, economical and eflicient process for attaining the above results.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus suitable for use in connection with said process and at the same time one which is simple and inexpensive in operation and construction.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

I attain these objects by the process hereinafter described and by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1, is a side elevation and Fig. 2, is a front elevation. v

The process includes the taking of a motion picture of a fluent image of an object While said image undergoes distortion.

In carrying out this process it has been found suitable to use an ordinary photographic plate bearing the usual gelatinous emulsion, with a positive image of an object well developed therein, and to render the image fiuent by melting the emulsion in which it reposes, preferably by the application of heat. When melted, the emulsion flows on the plate and gradually becomes distorted and the image, being integral therewith, undergoes like movement and distortion. Such anemulsion may be melted satisfactorily by directing heat from an oxyacetylene or gasolene torch against the plate hearing it,- this operation being accom- Speeification of Letters Patent. 1 31 9 1 1 Jan, 20, 1920,

Serial No. 312,072.

plished more readily if the emulsion has not become dry or hardened after development. By supporting the plate in tilted position the distortion of the image is accelerated by the action ofgravity upon the fluent emulsion and image. By directing the heat against any predetermined portion of the plate any portion of the image may be fluidized and distorted independently of any other portion, and by controlling the nature and extent of flow of the emulsion, the image, or a portion thereof, may be caused to undergo predetermined distortions.

Referring to the drawings, a shield 1, pierced by an opening 2, is adapted to receive and hold a photographic plate or similar object 3, in said opening, and is rotatably mounted by means of hinges or similar devices, upon a cross-piece 4, of a frame 5, and is adjustably' held in any one of a number of predetermined positions by means of an adjustable brace-bar 6, fastened to the shield, as at 7, and is adapted to be locked against said frame by means of thumb screw 8, mounted therein, to hold said shield in adjusted position.

Two 1000 watt tunsten electric bulb lights 9, supplied with suitable reflectors 15, and ground glass difl'using screens 14, mounted adjacent said lights in the usual manner, are adjustably mounted on frame 5 by means of fixed member 10, and member 11, movably mounted on member 10 and adapted to be locked in fixed position by means of a thumb screw 12, mounted on member 10, to provide illumination to an image on a plate in opening 2 for photographing purposes. In the drawing a motion icture camera adapted to photograph said image when positioned as above indicated, is shown dia-- grammatically at 13, and may be of any usual constructlon.

16 indicates a source of heat adapted to be directed against a photogra hic plate positioned in opening 2 with su cient intensity to effect the'melting of the emulsion on said plate, and is shown in the drawing as a flame supplied by a portable oxy-acetylene plant of the usual form, the torch being adapted to be manually operated and manipulated to facilitate the direction of the heat againstthe plate in any desired manner In operation, the photograph' ing the image of the object deslred o be ictured is placed in opening 2 of the shiel 1.

A motion picture camera 13, is then so positioned before the shield, and said camera and shield so adjusted as to placethe said image in the desired photographic range of the camera. The camera is then operated to take a motion picture of the image and heat is directed against the plate, preferably from behind, and both these operations are continued until the emulsion thereon has become melted and the image has undergone the distortion required for the production of the desired motion picture.

In the ordinary projection of motion pictures thus produced the object presented in the image used will appear to have itself undergone the distortion depicted, and if the film is reversed in the projection of the picture, unrecognizable matter in grotesque form will appear to form itself into recognizable objects.- The degree of grotesqueness pictured may .be predetermined by regulating the nature and amount of distortion of the image and the duration of exposure, both operations being under the control of the operator. Thus it is seen that by the process above described motion pictures may be produced which are novel and unique in character, which depict ordinary objects assuming grotesque and fantastic shapes, or wherein are depicted fantastic and unrecognizable matter seeming to form itself into recognizable objects.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above process without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

-1. The process of producing motion pictures consisting of distorting a visible photographic image contained in a photographic plate by projecting heat from. a lighted gasolene torch against said plate, and taking a motion picture of said image while undergoing distortion.

' 2, The process of producing motion pictures of the character described consisting of distorting a predetermined portion of a visible image carried on a photographic plate by directing a stream of heat from a lighted gasolene torch directly upon a predetermined portion of said plate, and taking a motion picture of said image during its distortion.

3. The process of producing motion pictures, of the character described consisting of distorting a visible image carried on a photographic plate by projecting a stream of heat against said plate, and taking a motion picture of said image while undergoing distortion.

4. The process of producing motion pic tures of the character described consisting of distorting a predetermined portion of a visible image carried on a photographic plate by projecting a stream of heat against a predetermined portion of said plate, and taking a motion picture of said image while undergoing distortion.

5. The process of producing motion pictures of the character described consisting of projecting a stream of heat from a torch against a photographic plate containing a visible image to cause said mage to become distorted, and taking a motion picture of said image during its distortion.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in COll'lblIlfltlOll, a motion picture camera, a visible photographic image adapted to be gradually distorted by the application of heat thereto, means to support said image within the photographic range of said camera, and means comprising an oXy-acetapplication of heat thereto, means to support said image within the photographic range of said camera and means adapted to project a stream of heat against said plate to effect a distortion of said image.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a motion picture camera, a photographic plate containing a visible image adapted to be distorted by a stream of heat projected against said plate, means to support said plate Within the photographic range of said camera and means comprising a torch adapted to project a stream of heat and adapted to be moved to permit of the direction of said stream of heat against any one of a number of portions of said plate to eflect a predetermined partial distortion of said image.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. W

' HAROLD GLOY CHRISTENSEN. Witnesses:

BEATRICE KARLIN, HENRY VAN ARSDALE, Jr. 

